I tend to put my foot in my mouth, in fact I'm surprised I haven't choked to death yet because it's in there fairly often. I remember a time in college days when someone asked me if I knew a particular girl. I went on and on about how she was my nemesis and that I couldn't stand to be in the same room as her. At that point the person told me that girl was his sister. I've fallen into the classic, 'when are you due?' to someone who isn't pregnant. Once I was at a home where abuse had taken place. The family was in need of some items. We got to the topic of cleaning supplies and I asked if they needed a broom. They asked, 'What do we need a broom for?' To which came rolling off my sarcastic tongue...'To beat your kids with.' I was horrified within a second because it wasn't what I meant literally, it was my impeccable sarcasm coming out at the worst possible time. I need a filter with a timer. I still think of that day and cringe.Case in point: Yesterday a friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook with the caption:"This is probably the scariest picture I have ever seen. My kid is like, Mom if you have to strap me in to poop, then we have a problem."
Then I had to throw in sarcastic comments, not to mention all the ones that went through my head...1. Seriously though, it's genius. Your kids could be in timeout for hours. 2. The kid didn't even pull his pants down, kind of defeats the whole purpose. 3. This is wrong on so many levels. 4. Talk about leaving the toilet seat up. 5. What kid gleams with joy to be strapped in to anything...let alone a toilet?
Then the unimaginable, yet I 'should have known it was coming moment' happened when the next few people made comments of: 'It's for special needs children who don't have the ability to support themselves for sitting.' 'It gives special needs kids more privacy and freedom.'Talk about taking the wind out of my sails. Seriously, I'm going to hell. These people probably thought I was the devil, and I may as well be.
There are times when I really try to hold things in. Some days it works, some days it doesn't. Yet again, this is going to be one of the days I can't hold it in and I'm sure I will be offending people in masses. But, I have an opinion and my mouth isn't staying shut.
I'm sure you've heard about it. The campaign to push Mattel into making a bald Barbie. Going with 'bald is beautiful' in dealing with cancer patients. Now keep in mind my dearest friend just ended her lung cancer chemo treatments and is bald as well as another dear friend fighting breast cancer. So, I'm not clueless on this matter or heartless. I just don't get it.
I don't know, maybe it will help a cancer patient to feel beautiful. I am a diabetic. If they made a diabetic Barbie with syringes and insulin, it wouldn't make me feel any more beautiful than I feel now. My daughter is blind in one eye. If they had blind Barbie with a washed out eye, my daughter would NOT be impressed. And then where does it stop? Will they make a Barbie for every illness to help others feel better about themselves? Will they make a hoarder Barbie with trash and moldy food crammed in the box with her? Likewise will making overweight Barbie, arthritic Barbie, Parkinson's Barbie, lazy eye Barbie, denture Barbie, or crippled Barbie make those individuals feel better? I really hope not. People are going to argue and say Barbie has been 'perfect' for years by having the perfect waist, boobs, hair, eyes, etc. Yet, the only people I've heard complain about Barbies are those who have insecurities themselves. I guess making Barbies that have suffered from real life issues will make these individuals feel better. Yet, I have a hard time imagining a little girl going to a store and purposely picking out a bald Barbie. It all comes down to what defines beauty. The fact of the matter is our character, integrity, and personalities make us beautiful. No one needs a Barbie doll to market what beauty is, but we also don't need to make her the victim if she has a healthy and beautiful appearance. I'm kind of flabbergasted that we are letting a doll dictate what beauty is in the first place. The doll itself isn't going to teach little girls about beauty, their parents or guardians should. Little girls just want something to play with.My question goes back to bald Barbie. Is it a concept in which the main goal is to raise awareness, or just to make people feel better? If its the latter, how about a hand written letter of encouragement letting someone know all the strength and beauty they possess? Guaranteed that will go much further and mean more than looking at a bald plastic doll. We must remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder and those who know beauty, don't use their eyes to see it.
BUT...even as I'm writing this I'm waiting for someone to expose me for the meany I am and let me know how this concept of bald Barbie has given their relative the will to go on. This will only make me aware, yet again, of my disease called 'foot in mouth.' And then just maybe, I can make a pitch to Mattel and get my very own Barbie.
It's a little known fact my husband can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Now it seems he's acquired a new habit of needing a wubby to nod off to dreamville. 99% of the time, this is how I find him AND the kids...with their gadgets all snuggled up cozy on the couch or under the covers. They fight til the bitter end to keep awake slicing fruit, killing pigs, playing Bejeweled, flying F16's, playing Words With Friends, reading, or whatever app of the month they've downloaded. Half the time at night I get hypnotized with the constant drooping of the iPad with the sudden jerk motion back up in playing position which gets repeated about 5 to 10 times before I tell Jason to put it down and go to sleep. Other nights I get woke up from the bed shaking from Jason practically having a seizure on his iPad playing Fruit Ninja. It's getting more annoying than the snoring. Bring back the blankets and pacifiers and stop this infidelity.
